Cam cleat



W. C. ROBERTS ET AL Feb. 10, 1953 CAM CLEAT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.5. 1948 AvmsNroAPS MAL/AM G-POEE/Prs OWEN E. DUFFY GENE V Feb. 10, 1953w. c. ROBERTS ET AL CAM CLEAZI 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1948 OWE/yE. DUFFY Feb. 10, 1953 w. c. ROBERTS ET AL CAM CLEAT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Oct. 5, 1948 Owe/v E VIII/IA Patented Feb. 10, 1953 CAM CLEATWilliam C. Roberts and Owen E. Duffy, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignors ofone-fourth to 0. Hugh Dufiy, Washington, D. 0.

Application October 5, 1948, Serial No. 52,814

1 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to cam cleats principally for use on small sailboats for jamming andholding the main sheet rope thereof in such mannerand position that the rope may be instantly released from the cleatwhenever it becomes necessary or advisable to do so.

It is not necessary here. to go into great detail as to the reasons whythe main sheet rope of a small sail boat should be so held or belayedthat it can be allowed to run freely at all times. Experienced skippersof small boats are fully familiar with that. Sufiice it to say that theuse of ordinary boat cleats arranged on the deck or otherwise of a smallsail boat are not satisfactory because under certain conditions ofsailing when the boat is subjected to a knock down, it is practicallyimpossible to release the main sheet fromthe cleat to which it isbelayed in time to spill the wind from the mainsail and avoid a capsize.

Likewise the use of the usual cam or other types of jam cleats on thedeck or otherwise of a small sail boat are not satisfactory, because ofthe fact that the main sheet rope from the boom does not lead properlyto the usual cam or jam cleat so as to render the cleat eiiective injamming the sheet rope or to permit instant release of the sheet ropefrom the cleat when it is necessary to do so.

It is an object of this invention to obviate the diificulties attendentupon belaying the main sheet rope of a small boat and to provide adevice so constructed, arranged and located that the main sheet rope ofsuch a boat may be safely and eifectively belayed in such manner that itcan be instantly released and permitted to run free when necessityrequires the mainsail to spill its wind to avert a capsize or for anyother reason.

With this principal object in view, the invention consists of the novelconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts of the device, all ofwhich will first be fully described and afterwards specifically pointedout in the appended claim..

Referringto the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferredembodiments of our invention:

' Fig. 1 is a deck plan view of a small sail boat having its boom toport in full lines in the. position it would be when on a broad reach,and to starboard in dotted lines on the same point of sailing andillustrating the position of the cam cleat, which is the subject matterof this invention, on the boom of the boat to which the main sheet ropei belayed, the loose haulingend of which is shown in the hand of thehelmsman or skipper. In this view as well as 2 in other views of thedrawings, the sails of the boat have been omitted, since they would notassist in the illustration of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view on the camcleat.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same showing it in full lines in itscentral position and swung into its two extreme positions in dottedlines, such as the cam cleat would substantially assume when the boomwas in the two positions shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view along line 4-4 ofFigure 2 through the cam cleat attached to the boom, which isfragmentarily shown also in vertical section.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse horizontal sectional view through oneform of conventional cleat cams taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modified form of cam cleat for jammingthe main sheet rope on the boom of a small sail boat. the boom to whichthe boom to which the cleat is fastened I being shown in verticalsection.

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the cleaton line l-'! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view unassembled of the base, frame and hingepintle of the modified structure shown in Figs. 6 and '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary deck plan of a small sail boat such as is shownin Fig. l, and illustrating the cam cleat of Figs. 1 to 5 located overthe keel of the boat and in longitudinal alignment therewith and incombination with a bent tubular pivoted fixture for properly leading themain sheet rope to the pivoted jam cleat from the boom.

Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse sectionalview through a small sail boatillustrating the boom to starboard and the main sheet rope leadingtherefrom to and into the tubular pivoted sheet leading fixture andbelayed in the pivoted cam cleat and leading thence loosely to the lefthand of the skipper or helmsman. In this View the tiller is shown insection and in the right hand of the helmsman.

Fig. 11 is a view like Fig. 10 except the boom is to port and the mainsheet rope leading therefrom in a downwardly direction opposite to thatof Fig. 10. This view illustrates the tubular pivoted sheet leadingfixture as being swung to port while the pivoted jam cleat has swung tostarboard.

Fig. 12'is a view partly in horizontalsection and partly in planillustrating a fragment of the main sheet rope leadingto and through theindependently pivoted tubular fixture and thence to and through thepivoted cam cleat.

Fig- 13 is a frontelevation ofuthe .cam cleat 3 and the tubular pivotedfixture showing a fragment of the main sheet rope belayed therein as inFig. 10, and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view partly in vertical section and partly inelevation showing the independently pivotedtubular fixti'ire leading afragment of the main sheet line to the pivoted tubular portion of thecam cleat.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout theseveral figures, in which'z' I indicates a small sail boathavinga deck2,; cockpit 3, mast 4, boom 5, main sheet traveller 6 (Fig. 1), keel Iand floor boards 8 under the cockpit 3 and over the keel 1 and bottom 9of the boat.

indicates the main sheet rope, which in the example of rig shown in thedrawing has its standing end attached toithe boom ,5 at ll (Fig. 1") andleads'to' apulley liloc'li' [2' which is'shiftahle on" the traveller 6from full the position to dotted line position inFig; 1. v

The inaifi sheet rope I 0 lea s from the traveller block" I 2' back to apulley block IS'm'oiinted'on the total and leads thence to the pivotedcam ole'at' mounted under the" boom 5 and indicated by' the" numeral [4.

From the cam cleat M the main sheet rope leads downwardly into thecockpit 3 and into convenient position to be grasped by the free hand ofthe newsman, other hand grasping the tiller as shown in" Fig. 1.

Referring to the construc "on of the example of the pivoted ca m cleat'for jamming the main sheet rope which is in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive ofthe drawings, it will be seen thata cylindrical bearing plate 6 is'provided and equipped with openings ['7 to receive suitable fastening'sfor securing the plate It in proper operative position on the uhdef'surface of the boom as indicated in Fig. i. V

Pivotedinthe bearing plate is the straight tubularportion [8 of thedevice upon which is formed two annular shoulders IQ for retaining thestraight tubular portion 2 8 inthe cylindrical bearing plate 16 andagainst longitudinal movenfient therein, but which permits free rotaryor pivotalmove'zrient of thetubular portion [Etherein so that the camolea't' 14 my swing freely from" one dotted position to the otheras'shown in-Fig'. 3 or through an arc of substantially 180 degrees". n 4p The straight tubular portion I8 of the device merges into a downwardlybent tubular portion 20 which terminates in a flat portion 2i lyingtransversely of the bent tubjular portion 20 and at siihstantially 90degrees to the straight tubular points I8 and the bearing plate It ofthe device of so that the main sheet rope leadssubstantially straightfroin'the boom to the handof the helmeman.

Mounted on the fiat transverse portion 2 If are the two cam members 22and 23, the outer opposing" afii surfaces 24 of which are each serrated;

so as to'ihc ease the holding power of the came when the main sheet ropeis jammed therebetween will be apparent from an inspection of ne'ccompan mg: di' awiiigs.

we lay no" claim to the specific construction of these cam members 22and 23, although the particular type of camssiiewn in the drawing arepreferred. They are only shown there in detail in order to'makemore'clearthe operation ofthe rope'jamtni'ngact on or-the device.

As best shown in Fig; 5 the-two cam members are each pivoted on abushing 25 secured to" the 4 transverse cam mounting plate 2| by amachine screw 26. Within the shell of each cam 22 and 23 and surroundingthe bushing 25 is a coil spring 21 having one end 28 thereof secured inthe transverse plate 2| and its free end 29 bearing on 8. lug 30 formedon the interior of the cam. As the coil spring 27 in each cam is woundin opposite directions, the two cam members 22 and 23 are biased inopposite directions, or toward each other in such manner that theserrated cam surfaces 24 always assume or tend to assume theirnormaiposit ons as shown in Fig. 3. A stop 31 for each cafn memberformed on the transverse mounting plate 2| and engaged by the shell ofeach earn,- as shown in Fig. 3 holds the two cams in their properrelative positions to receive the main sheet rope between the serratedcam surfaces of the cams. v v v As is' best shown in Fig. 5', theserratea a surfaces Hare slightly tapered outwardly which facilitatesthe entranoe of the main sheet rope into operative jamming positionbetween the two cams" and also facilitates the in'stant disengage meritof the sheet rope from its jammed position as will presently bedescribed.

Suitably formed on the transverse camrnount in'g' plate 21 is a u-shapeuguiding yoke 32' which lies under the two cam members 2'2- and' 23 andprojects substantially horizontally from its mounting plate 2| themanner as best shown in Fig. 4. v

In operation, the main sheet rope it passes thr'ougle' the loop formedby this guiding yoke 32 so thatthejmain sheet rope is properlypositioned by said yoke at all times for ready entrance between the twocam members 22 and 23 and for instant disengagement therefrom. Toaccom-- plish the engagement of the main sheet line between the twoserrated cam surfaces, the rope'is first drawn through thedevic'e incontact with the corners of the two'tapered serrated cam[ surfaces"which moves the cam surfaces apart and permits the rope to enter betweenthe cam; surfacesj and assume? the position showers full lines in Uponreleasing the ren me two serrated earn surfaces are actuated by theirinternal springs in opposed directions and toward eaohothepto jam therope between the two cams and hold it fast. To instantly release therope and permit it torun free through the tub'ular portion of the cleat;the free end the rope is merely pulled forwardly through the guidingyokj'BZihto position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4; Thisear'ries' therope-clear of the cam surfaces and permits it to run ireely throughthe"device; 4 I v In the modification shown in Figs; 6 to 8' inclusiveof thedrawings, the principal difi'er'ence is that the device'embodie's' apulley over which the main sheet rope leads to the we eammem bers 2'2and 23; instead or from the bent tubular portion 20 of Figs. 1 to 5.

In this modification the mounting plate I6" is provided with-openings I1to receive fastenin'gs ll" for securing the device to the under surface"of the boom 5. p 19 indicates the shell of the pulley block 26' whichshell terminates in a transverse mounting plate 2'!" upon which the twocam members 22 and 23 are mounted in'the manner as hereinbeforedescribed. There isalso provided on the mounting plate 2| the guidi'ii'gyoke 32,. the purpose and function ofwh'ich is precisely the same ashereinfore described.

The top of the uney Shell 19 and thebottofn of the mounting plate (6"are-rented like two hinge members to receive a hinge piritle" 1'9" sothat the cam cleat proper can swing on its mounting base l6 into itsextreme positions indicated in the dotted lines in Fig. 6, or through anarc of substantially 180 degrees.

The operation of jamming the main sheet rope between the two cams and ofreleasing therefrom is the same as hereinbefore described and thereforeno further description is required.

While this device was developed primarily for use on the boom of a smallsail boat to belay the main sheet rope, it is capable of use in otherapplications, for instance for belaying the main sheet rope at the keelof a small boat, as shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive.

In this application the device is used in combination with anindependently pivoted fixture for leading the main sheet rope from theboom to the cam cleat, as best shown in Figs. 9 to 11. The device isthus used without change in structure from that shown in Figs. 2 to 5and hereinbefore described.

The pivoted cam cleat [4 has its bearing plate l6 securely fastened onor directly over the keel of the boat 1 in combination with theindependently pivoted tubular fixture 40 as best shown in Fig. 9. Thisfixture 40 includes a cylindrical bearing mounting plate 4|, which maybe an exact duplicate of the bearing plate It of the cam cleat l4.Pivoted in the bearing plate 4| is the tubular member 42 which includesa straight portion 43 (Fig. 14) and an upwardly bent portion 44 intowhich the main sheet rope l leads directly from the pulley block IS onthe boom as shown in Figs. 9 to 11.

The straight portion 43 of the tubular member 42 is provided with twoannular flanges 45, (Figs. 12 and 14) to retain the tubular memberagainst longitudinal movement in its cylindrical bearing plate 4| but topermit free rotary or pivotal movement thereof therein. This pivotedtubular fixture is fastened to or arranged over the keel 7 slightlyforward of the pivoted cam cleat l4 so that the tubular member 42 leadsthe main sheet rope I0 straight into the tubular portion I8 of thepivoted cam cleat I4 as shown in the drawings.

It is customary in the sailing of small boats for the helmsman to sit onthe port side when the boom is to starboard, as shown in Fig. 10, and tosit on the starboard side when the boom is to port, as shown in Fig. 11.Therefore the pivoted tubular fixture 40 or rather the upwardly benttubular portion 44 thereof must swing from its position shown in Fig. 10to its position shown in Fig. 11 in order to be capable of leading themain sheet rope I0 straight from the boom 5. At the same time thepivoted cam cleat must swing from its position shown in Fig. 10 to itsposition shown in Fig. 11 so that the main sheet rope will lead properlyto the hand of the helsman as is also shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

The operations of engaging and releasing the main sheet rope between andfrom the cams 22 and 23 of the device when it is mounted on or over thekeel of a boat, as in Figs. 9 to 11, is precisely the same ashereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings,since the difference in application of the device is not accompanied byany change in structure.

Having thus described what we consider to be preferred embodiments ofour invention, We do not Wish to be understood as limiting ourselves tothe exact construction herein described and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, as various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, and Weconsider ourselves clearly entitled to all such changes andmodifications as fall within the limit and scope of the appended claim.

What we claim is:

The herein described device for receiving and belaying the main sheetrope of a sail boat adjacent the keel thereof which includes; a mountingplate for mounting over the keel of a sail boat, said mounting platehaving a pivot bearing thereon, a unitary sheet rope guide membercomprising a cam cleat for receiving and holding said rope, said memberhaving a pivot bearing cooperating with the pivot bearing on themounting plate for pivotally mounting said sheet rope guide member onsaid mounting plate, said sheet rope guide member including a pulley forconducting said rope through the guide member and to said cam cleat, acam mounting plate carried on said guide member transverse of the lineof movement of the sheet rope over said pulley, said cam cleatcomprising a pair of rope jamming cams mounted on said cam mountingplate, one of said cams being positioned at each side of the line ofmovement of a rope from said guide element over said mounting plate, arope guide member in the form of a yoke on said cam mounting plateprojecting from the side thereof for receiving and retaining said ropein substantial alignment with the juncture of said cams, said yoke beingelongated in a direction substantially parallel with the axes ofrotation of the cams, said sheet rope guide member having additionalmeans cooperating with said unitary sheet rope guide member for leadingthe main sheet rope from the boom of a sail boat into a line of movementco-axially with the line of movement of entry of the sheet rope to saidpulley carried by said unitary sheet rope guide member.

WILLIAM C. ROBERTS. OWEN E. DUFFY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Wilcox, Crittenden and Co., Inc.,1941 Catalog issued Jan. 1941 Marine Hardware, Middletown, Conn. Page 54relied on. (Copy in Division 22.)

